Problem/Motivation

I want to reference the crm contacts from another content type, as it is usually done in Drupal.

Steps to reproduce

In any content type I create a reference field, Select "Other" as the reference type, then Next. In the next screen, I select Contact as "Type of item to reference".

The following errors appear in the Log:

1. A Warning

Warning: Undefined array key "base_plugin_label" in Drupal\Core\Field\Plugin\Field\FieldType\EntityReferenceItem->fieldSettingsForm() (line 456 of /var/www/html/public_html/core/lib/Drupal/Core/Field/Plugin/Field/FieldType/EntityReferenceItem.php)
#0 /var/www/html/public_html/core/includes/bootstrap.inc(104): _drupal_error_handler_real()
#1 /var/www/html/public_html/core/lib/Drupal/Core/Field/Plugin/Field/FieldType/EntityReferenceItem.php(456): _drupal_error_handler()
#2 /var/www/html/public_html/core/modules/field_ui/src/Form/FieldConfigEditForm.php(188): Drupal\Core\Field\Plugin\Field\FieldType\EntityReferenceItem->fieldSettingsForm()
#3 /var/www/html/public_html/core/lib/Drupal/Core/Entity/EntityForm.php(108): Drupal\field_ui\Form\FieldConfigEditForm->form()
#4 [internal function]: Drupal\Core\Entity\EntityForm->buildForm()
#5 /var/www/html/public_html/core/lib/Drupal/Core/Form/FormBuilder.php(554): call_user_func_array()
#6 /var/www/html/public_html/core/lib/Drupal/Core/Form/FormBuilder.php(396): Drupal\Core\Form\FormBuilder->retrieveForm()
#7 /var/www/html/public_html/modules/contrib/autosave_form/src/Form/AutosaveFormBuilder.php(163): Drupal\Core\Form\FormBuilder->rebuildForm()
#8 /var/www/html/public_html/core/lib/Drupal/Core/Form/FormBuilder.php(651): Drupal\autosave_form\Form\AutosaveFormBuilder->rebuildForm()
#9 /var/www/html/public_html/modules/contrib/autosave_form/src/Form/AutosaveFormBuilder.php(145): Drupal\Core\Form\FormBuilder->processForm()
#10 /var/www/html/public_html/core/lib/Drupal/Core/Form/FormBuilder.php(347): Drupal\autosave_form\Form\AutosaveFormBuilder->processForm()
#11 /var/www/html/public_html/modules/contrib/autosave_form/src/Form/AutosaveFormBuilder.php(98): Drupal\Core\Form\FormBuilder->buildForm()
#12 /var/www/html/public_html/core/lib/Drupal/Core/Entity/EntityFormBuilder.php(48): Drupal\autosave_form\Form\AutosaveFormBuilder->buildForm()
#13 /var/www/html/public_html/core/modules/field_ui/src/Controller/FieldConfigAddController.php(62): Drupal\Core\Entity\EntityFormBuilder->getForm()
#14 [internal function]: Drupal\field_ui\Controller\FieldConfigAddController->fieldConfigAddConfigureForm()
#15 /var/www/html/public_html/core/lib/Drupal/Core/EventSubscriber/EarlyRenderingControllerWrapperSubscriber.php(123): call_user_func_array()
#16 /var/www/html/public_html/core/lib/Drupal/Core/Render/Renderer.php(634): Drupal\Core\EventSubscriber\EarlyRenderingControllerWrapperSubscriber->{closure:Drupal\Core\EventSubscriber\EarlyRenderingControllerWrapperSubscriber::wrapControllerExecutionInRenderContext():121}()
#17 [internal function]: Drupal\Core\Render\Renderer::{closure:Drupal\Core\Render\Renderer::executeInRenderContext():634}()
#18 /var/www/html/public_html/core/lib/Drupal/Core/Render/Renderer.php(649): Fiber->resume()
#19 /var/www/html/public_html/core/lib/Drupal/Core/EventSubscriber/EarlyRenderingControllerWrapperSubscriber.php(121): Drupal\Core\Render\Renderer->executeInRenderContext()
#20 /var/www/html/public_html/core/lib/Drupal/Core/EventSubscriber/EarlyRenderingControllerWrapperSubscriber.php(97): Drupal\Core\EventSubscriber\EarlyRenderingControllerWrapperSubscriber->wrapControllerExecutionInRenderContext()
#21 /var/www/html/vendor/symfony/http-kernel/HttpKernel.php(183): Drupal\Core\EventSubscriber\EarlyRenderingControllerWrapperSubscriber->{closure:Drupal\Core\EventSubscriber\EarlyRenderingControllerWrapperSubscriber::onController():96}()
#22 /var/www/html/vendor/symfony/http-kernel/HttpKernel.php(76): Symfony\Component\HttpKernel\HttpKernel->handleRaw()
#23 /var/www/html/public_html/core/lib/Drupal/Core/StackMiddleware/Session.php(53): Symfony\Component\HttpKernel\HttpKernel->handle()
#24 /var/www/html/public_html/core/lib/Drupal/Core/StackMiddleware/KernelPreHandle.php(48): Drupal\Core\StackMiddleware\Session->handle()
#25 /var/www/html/public_html/core/lib/Drupal/Core/StackMiddleware/ContentLength.php(28): Drupal\Core\StackMiddleware\KernelPreHandle->handle()
#26 /var/www/html/public_html/core/modules/big_pipe/src/StackMiddleware/ContentLength.php(32): Drupal\Core\StackMiddleware\ContentLength->handle()
#27 /var/www/html/public_html/core/modules/page_cache/src/StackMiddleware/PageCache.php(118): Drupal\big_pipe\StackMiddleware\ContentLength->handle()
#28 /var/www/html/public_html/core/modules/page_cache/src/StackMiddleware/PageCache.php(92): Drupal\page_cache\StackMiddleware\PageCache->pass()
#29 /var/www/html/public_html/core/lib/Drupal/Core/StackMiddleware/ReverseProxyMiddleware.php(48): Drupal\page_cache\StackMiddleware\PageCache->handle()
#30 /var/www/html/public_html/core/lib/Drupal/Core/StackMiddleware/NegotiationMiddleware.php(51): Drupal\Core\StackMiddleware\ReverseProxyMiddleware->handle()
#31 /var/www/html/public_html/core/lib/Drupal/Core/StackMiddleware/AjaxPageState.php(53): Drupal\Core\StackMiddleware\NegotiationMiddleware->handle()
#32 /var/www/html/public_html/core/lib/Drupal/Core/StackMiddleware/StackedHttpKernel.php(54): Drupal\Core\StackMiddleware\AjaxPageState->handle()
#33 /var/www/html/public_html/core/lib/Drupal/Core/DrupalKernel.php(745): Drupal\Core\StackMiddleware\StackedHttpKernel->handle()
#34 /var/www/html/public_html/index.php(19): Drupal\Core\DrupalKernel->handle()
#35 {main}
.

2. An Error

TypeError: Drupal\Component\Utility\Html::escape(): Argument #1 ($text) must be of type string, null given, called in /var/www/html/public_html/core/lib/Drupal/Core/Field/Plugin/Field/FieldType/EntityReferenceItem.php on line 456 in Drupal\Component\Utility\Html::escape() (line 433 of /var/www/html/public_html/core/lib/Drupal/Component/Utility/Html.php).

#0 /var/www/html/public_html/core/lib/Drupal/Core/Field/Plugin/Field/FieldType/EntityReferenceItem.php(456): Drupal\Component\Utility\Html::escape()
#1 /var/www/html/public_html/core/modules/field_ui/src/Form/FieldConfigEditForm.php(188): Drupal\Core\Field\Plugin\Field\FieldType\EntityReferenceItem->fieldSettingsForm()
#2 /var/www/html/public_html/core/lib/Drupal/Core/Entity/EntityForm.php(108): Drupal\field_ui\Form\FieldConfigEditForm->form()
#3 [internal function]: Drupal\Core\Entity\EntityForm->buildForm()
#4 /var/www/html/public_html/core/lib/Drupal/Core/Form/FormBuilder.php(554): call_user_func_array()
#5 /var/www/html/public_html/core/lib/Drupal/Core/Form/FormBuilder.php(396): Drupal\Core\Form\FormBuilder->retrieveForm()
#6 /var/www/html/public_html/modules/contrib/autosave_form/src/Form/AutosaveFormBuilder.php(163): Drupal\Core\Form\FormBuilder->rebuildForm()
#7 /var/www/html/public_html/core/lib/Drupal/Core/Form/FormBuilder.php(651): Drupal\autosave_form\Form\AutosaveFormBuilder->rebuildForm()
#8 /var/www/html/public_html/modules/contrib/autosave_form/src/Form/AutosaveFormBuilder.php(145): Drupal\Core\Form\FormBuilder->processForm()
#9 /var/www/html/public_html/core/lib/Drupal/Core/Form/FormBuilder.php(347): Drupal\autosave_form\Form\AutosaveFormBuilder->processForm()
#10 /var/www/html/public_html/modules/contrib/autosave_form/src/Form/AutosaveFormBuilder.php(98): Drupal\Core\Form\FormBuilder->buildForm()
#11 /var/www/html/public_html/core/lib/Drupal/Core/Entity/EntityFormBuilder.php(48): Drupal\autosave_form\Form\AutosaveFormBuilder->buildForm()
#12 /var/www/html/public_html/core/modules/field_ui/src/Controller/FieldConfigAddController.php(62): Drupal\Core\Entity\EntityFormBuilder->getForm()
#13 [internal function]: Drupal\field_ui\Controller\FieldConfigAddController->fieldConfigAddConfigureForm()
#14 /var/www/html/public_html/core/lib/Drupal/Core/EventSubscriber/EarlyRenderingControllerWrapperSubscriber.php(123): call_user_func_array()
#15 /var/www/html/public_html/core/lib/Drupal/Core/Render/Renderer.php(634): Drupal\Core\EventSubscriber\EarlyRenderingControllerWrapperSubscriber->{closure:Drupal\Core\EventSubscriber\EarlyRenderingControllerWrapperSubscriber::wrapControllerExecutionInRenderContext():121}()
#16 [internal function]: Drupal\Core\Render\Renderer::{closure:Drupal\Core\Render\Renderer::executeInRenderContext():634}()
#17 /var/www/html/public_html/core/lib/Drupal/Core/Render/Renderer.php(649): Fiber->resume()
#18 /var/www/html/public_html/core/lib/Drupal/Core/EventSubscriber/EarlyRenderingControllerWrapperSubscriber.php(121): Drupal\Core\Render\Renderer->executeInRenderContext()
#19 /var/www/html/public_html/core/lib/Drupal/Core/EventSubscriber/EarlyRenderingControllerWrapperSubscriber.php(97): Drupal\Core\EventSubscriber\EarlyRenderingControllerWrapperSubscriber->wrapControllerExecutionInRenderContext()
#20 /var/www/html/vendor/symfony/http-kernel/HttpKernel.php(183): Drupal\Core\EventSubscriber\EarlyRenderingControllerWrapperSubscriber->{closure:Drupal\Core\EventSubscriber\EarlyRenderingControllerWrapperSubscriber::onController():96}()
#21 /var/www/html/vendor/symfony/http-kernel/HttpKernel.php(76): Symfony\Component\HttpKernel\HttpKernel->handleRaw()
#22 /var/www/html/public_html/core/lib/Drupal/Core/StackMiddleware/Session.php(53): Symfony\Component\HttpKernel\HttpKernel->handle()
#23 /var/www/html/public_html/core/lib/Drupal/Core/StackMiddleware/KernelPreHandle.php(48): Drupal\Core\StackMiddleware\Session->handle()
#24 /var/www/html/public_html/core/lib/Drupal/Core/StackMiddleware/ContentLength.php(28): Drupal\Core\StackMiddleware\KernelPreHandle->handle()
#25 /var/www/html/public_html/core/modules/big_pipe/src/StackMiddleware/ContentLength.php(32): Drupal\Core\StackMiddleware\ContentLength->handle()
#26 /var/www/html/public_html/core/modules/page_cache/src/StackMiddleware/PageCache.php(118): Drupal\big_pipe\StackMiddleware\ContentLength->handle()
#27 /var/www/html/public_html/core/modules/page_cache/src/StackMiddleware/PageCache.php(92): Drupal\page_cache\StackMiddleware\PageCache->pass()
#28 /var/www/html/public_html/core/lib/Drupal/Core/StackMiddleware/ReverseProxyMiddleware.php(48): Drupal\page_cache\StackMiddleware\PageCache->handle()
#29 /var/www/html/public_html/core/lib/Drupal/Core/StackMiddleware/NegotiationMiddleware.php(51): Drupal\Core\StackMiddleware\ReverseProxyMiddleware->handle()
#30 /var/www/html/public_html/core/lib/Drupal/Core/StackMiddleware/AjaxPageState.php(53): Drupal\Core\StackMiddleware\NegotiationMiddleware->handle()
#31 /var/www/html/public_html/core/lib/Drupal/Core/StackMiddleware/StackedHttpKernel.php(54): Drupal\Core\StackMiddleware\AjaxPageState->handle()
#32 /var/www/html/public_html/core/lib/Drupal/Core/DrupalKernel.php(745): Drupal\Core\StackMiddleware\StackedHttpKernel->handle()
#33 /var/www/html/public_html/index.php(19): Drupal\Core\DrupalKernel->handle()
#34 {main}

The same error appear when I Try out a demonstration using the simplytest.me in the project page.

Proposed resolution

Remaining tasks

User interface changes

API changes

Data model changes

CommentFileSizeAuthor
#7 Screenshot 2026-05-13 at 13-03-23 Manage fields SPRAT.png34.65 KBmortona2k
#7 Screenshot 2026-05-13 at 12-53-35 Manage fields SPRAT.png30.63 KBmortona2k

Issue fork crm-3588470

Command icon Show commands

Start within a Git clone of the project using the version control instructions.

Or, if you do not have SSH keys set up on git.drupalcode.org:

About issue forks

Comments

tommynin created an issue. See original summary.

tommynin’s picture

tommynin commented

After 1 hour working with Claude and Gemini, there is the propositions for the fix:
Eureka! We have finally caught the "Ghost in the Machine."

The error occurs because Drupal 11's UI expects every selection "Group" to have a human-readable name. When you created (or the module provided) the ValidContactsSelection plugin with the group 'valid_contacts', the system looked for a label for that group, found null, and crashed when trying to sanitize it for the dropdown menu.

Here is how to fix this so you can get back to work.

Option 1: The "Fast Fix" (Recommended)
The simplest way to stop the crash is to move this plugin into the 'default' group. This just means it will appear under the standard "Default" category in the settings dropdown instead of a custom "Valid Contacts" category.

Open src/Plugin/EntityReferenceSelection/ValidContactsSelection.php.

Update the Attribute block to change the group:

PHP
#[EntityReferenceSelection(
id: 'valid_contacts:crm_contact',
label: new TranslatableMarkup('Valid Contacts: CRM Contact'),
entity_types: ['crm_contact'],
group: 'default', // <--- Change this from 'valid_contacts' to 'default'
weight: 10, // Increased weight so it appears after the standard selection
)]

Clear Caches: Run drush cr.

The field settings page should now load perfectly.

Option 2: The "Proper Fix" (If you want the custom group)
If you specifically want a separate category in the dropdown menu for "Valid Contacts," you have to tell Drupal what that group is called. You do this by implementing hook_selection_group_info_alter() in a custom module (or the crm.module file itself).

Add this code to your .module file:

PHP

/**
* Implements hook_selection_group_info_alter().
*/
function your_module_name_selection_group_info_alter(array &$groups): void {
$groups['valid_contacts'] = [
'label' => t('Valid Contacts'), // This provides the missing string
'weight' => 0,
];
}

I used the Fast Fix and it worked.
If the fix is ok, can you add it to the module code?

bluegeek9’s picture

bluegeek9 commented
Related issues: +#3554371: Relationship: Default or required entity
bluegeek9’s picture

bluegeek9 commented
Assigned: Unassigned » bluegeek9

bluegeek9 opened merge request !219

bluegeek9’s picture

bluegeek9 commented
Assigned: bluegeek9 » Unassigned
Status: Active » Needs review
mortona2k’s picture

mortona2k commented
StatusFileSize
new Screenshot 2026-05-13 at 12-53-35 Manage fields SPRAT.png30.63 KB
new Screenshot 2026-05-13 at 13-03-23 Manage fields SPRAT.png34.65 KB

I stumbled into this issue literally 7 minutes after you marked as needs review.

Before:
Contact reference field broken

After:
Contact reference field fixed

mortona2k’s picture

mortona2k commented

Code change is minimal, works for me, and tests are passing.

The reference field type is still under Other, and not a standalone selection. Not sure if moving it would be helpful, but I think that is what is mentioned in option 2 in comment #2.

I think this is good to go, but will kick the tires a bit more today.

mortona2k’s picture

mortona2k commented
Status: Needs review » Reviewed & tested by the community

Working well so far.

bluegeek9 changed the visibility of the branch 1.0.x to hidden.